Synthesized Weed Arrives in Billings

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By Kyle Midura

Story Published: May 9, 2010 at 3:33 PM MST

Story Updated: May 9, 2010 at 3:34 PM MST

BILLINGS - A controversy brews in Billings as medical marijuana storefronts move in near schools, but law enforcement officers said there's a new drug parents should watch out for that could put school children and adults at high risk.

"It's a new drug and we're just starting to see it," said Regional Probation and Parole Director John Williams. He said they're just starting to encounter what's known as K2, Spice, or John 3:16 among a host of other names. "We have to catchup to it and have some discussion on how we're going to address it the more prevalent it becomes," he said.

Whatever you call it, it looks like marijuana, and is sold as a meditation incense. "Sell it based as an incense not for consumption, but you know kids are using it," said Billings Police Sgt. Kevin Iffland, "I'm unaware of any age restrictions."

It's legal, available at tobacco shops and online. Elsewhere in the country the drug is popular among parolees who don't want to risk going back behind bars. "It causes a high similar to marijuana without testing positive for marijuana," said Williams, "it presents some challenges."

"They're not seeing big usage amongst teens here in Billings," said Iffland. Law enforcement and school officials said it isn't a problem, yet.

"The concern is just availability, the addictive component to it, and the unknown right now," said Williams.

Invented in the mid-nineties as a medical marijuana altenative, synthesized marijuana has not been shown to have the medical benefits, and its drawbacks are unknown.

"I think it's good for people to have an awareness, especially parents," said Iffland, "it is legal but what the concerns are is that it's not a controlled substance."

Kansas recently banned the substance, and the DEA has labelled it a 'concern.'

Staffers in Attorney General Steve Bullock's office said they're aware of efforts in other states to ban synthetic weed, but said they have no plans of their own yet.

"We're not going to ingnore it, we're going to address it," said Williams, "because it's an issue."

Synthesized weed does not contain THC, the chemical responsible for marijuana's mind-altering effects. It does contain a similar chemical that acts upon the same receptors in the brain.

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Ali said on Monday, Apr 18 at 9:38 AM

They have been trying to ban this k2 incense stuff for at least a year and the effort is an utter failure, surprise surprise! Herbal incense itself isn't being banned. Select chemicals that have been found in some of the products are being banned. So all that is happening is the manufacturers of K2 herb products are tweaking the formula to keep their product legal. There are loads of places still offering legal k2 smoke products, like http://www.k2-incense.com I say put age restrictions on it and regulate it, otherwise we're just dumping more time and money, that we don't have, into a failed prohibition.

chyanne said on Wednesday, Oct 6 at 4:55 PM

well acid_burn i dont know where u r from but i have lived in montana all my life an every tobacco store in my billings have a sign saying if u r not 18yrs old then dont enter the store so i think u need to get your facts straight

bryaneddy09 said on Sunday, Sep 19 at 8:11 PM

all i know,is i get very high ,and use it to sleep .works just as good as great medical herb.it is a bit trippy ,i dont suggest doing it around other( i only need one good hit btw)people,tools,typing .i go to bed.serious munchies too.

Faith said on Friday, Jul 16 at 10:56 PM

I came across a website that warns of all the counterfeit k2 incense floating around. http://www.k2-incense.com be informed and be safe

AciD_BurN said on Monday, May 10 at 9:16 AM

"I'm unaware of any age restrictions." ? There are no age restrictions in your state's tobacco shops? Isn't that the real problem? So Tobacco shops allow minors in their stores? If anyone under the age of 18 uses anything other than what it was designed for, does that make it a dangerous drug? It is clearly marked as incense, and not for human consumption. If I follow this story’s logic, then perhaps Whipped cream should be banned because its propellant is Nitrous Oxide. Better ban all cleaning products as well because the fumes may make you high. Or maybe, ppl should follow the guidelines and use it as incense. It says no one under 18 on most of the packages, and the ones that don’t can very easily have a no one under 18 label. Also if there is “very little known about these products” then how can you say it’s addictive or dangerous?

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